Electrical controlling means for planers and other machines.



v A. P. STEGKEL. ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING MEANS FOR PLANERS AND OTHERMACHINES;

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1909.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909. 2 SHE ETS SHBBT 1.

"Wifneasea- 1 A. P. STEGKEL. I ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING MEANS FOR PLANERSAND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1909. 936,577. I

Patented Oct. 12,1909.

2 BHEBTB-SHEET 2.

v efiicient and desirable means of simple con UNITED STATES;

ABRAM P. STECKEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLING MEANS FOR PLANERS AND OTHER MACHINES.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that- I, Anna P. STECKEL, a citizen of the Fnited States,residing at New York city. in the county of New York and State of NewYork. have invented a new i n o and useful Improvement 111 ElectricalCon trolling Means for Planers and other Machines. of which thefollowing is a specification. K

This invention relates to mechanisms for reversing and controlling thespeed of machines. such. for example. as metal planet's, which have areciprocating work bed or part that travels alternately in oppositedirec tions, and is driven by a motor that runs continuously in onedirection.

Metal planers are ordinarily designed or geared so that the bed travelsat a slower speed during the cutting stroke than during the returnstroke. It is often desirable or advantageous to be able to cut atdifferent speeds. some metals or classes of work permittingot higherspeeds of the bed than others, and to return the bed-as rapidly aspermitted by the nature of the work, and the planer can be operated withthe greatest efiiciency when the speed of the bed in both the cuttingand return strokes can be independently regulated as calculated to bemost suitable for the pa rticularwork in hand.

One objedt of this invention is to provide struction which operateautomatically to reverse the motion of the'bed of a planer, or analogousreciprocating part in other machines. and which can be readily set oradjusted to independently regulate the speed of the forward and backwardstrokes of the bed as may be desired without necessitating a change ofgears.

Other objects are to provide a controlling mechanism of exceedinglysimple construction which insures the reverse being effected only whenthe motor is operating at its sloW- est speed and with its greateststrength; and to improve controlling mechanisms of the character statedin the respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is anelevation of an electrically driven planing machine equipped withcontrolling means embodying the invention. the controlling means in line2-2, F i-g.. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 10, 1909.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

Serial No. 477,176.

1 Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view thereof in line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. atis a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the reciprocatory bed of a therefor which runs continuouslyin one direction. and C and C two electrical clutches or devices fortransmitting motion fromthe motor to the machine. The motor ispreferably of the shunt-wound field type for a reason which will appearlater. In Fig. at, L represents the motor armature and b the shunt fieldwinding. The clutches C C havedriving members 0 which are fast on themotor shaft or are otherwise positively driven by the motor and loosedriven members c which are geared to the planer bed so as to drive it inopposite directions. This is the usual arrangement in planers driven bya continuously running motor. and two clutches, and, as usual, thegearing is d e signed to give a faster travel of the bed on the backingstroke than. on the cutting stroke. The clutches U" C are preferably ofthe induction type disclosed in Patent No.

but electrically controlled clutches or transmitting devices of othersorts could be used.

D represents a regulating tumbler or lever which is pivoted in anysuitable manner and is provided with. arms d and (i arranged adjacent tothe planer bed respectively in the paths of movement of tappets e and cwhich are adjustably secured on the planer-bed. The tumbler ispreferably frame 6, 1nd a curved bar a is arranged in front a t thetumbler provided with a number of holes in which stop pins e and e forthe tumbler are adapted to be Placed to independently limit the swing ofthe tumbler in either direction as may be desired. The tumbler Dcontrols the electrical current to the clutches C C and when the bedapproaches the limit of its cutting stroke the backing tappet 0 willengage the arm (1 of the tumbler and move the tumbler in one directionto throw the cutting clutch C" out ofaction and the backing clutch Ginto ac, tionto reverse the motion of the bed, and when the bedapproaches the limit of its backing stroke the cutting tappet 6 willmetal planing machine, 13 a driving motor' H4323, granted to me November17, 1903,-

secured to a. shaft 0 journaled in a suitable and the cnttin engage theother arm 03 of the tumbler and move the tumbler in the oppositedirection to throw the backing clutch out of action clutch into actionagain. The tumbler also constitutes the movable lever of a rheostat forcontrolling the speed of the motor B.

Theelectrical connections are as follows, see particularly Fig. 4:: f frepresent two separated curved clutch contact strips which are insulatedfrom each other and against one of which a contact piece f on thetumbler D is adapted to bear except when the tumbler is in its centralposition with the contact piece f between the separated ends of theclutch contacts f f. G andG represent the opposite sides of anelectrical supply circuit, and g a branch conductor connecting one sideG of the main circuit with the contact piece f on the tumbler l). Theclutches C and C are respectively connected by conductors g and g to theclutch contacts 7 and f and by conductors h and 7L2 to the other side Gof the main circuit, so that when the tumbler is moved to one side fromits central position its contact 7 will engage the clutch contact f andclose the circuit through the clutch C, thus energizing this clutch andcausing the bed to travel in one direction, and when the tum bler ismoved to the opposite side from its central position its contact piece fwill en gage the clutch-contact f and close the circuit through theother clutch G which will then be energized, and drive the bed' in theoposite direction. The tumbler is also provided with a contact piece 2'which is connected to the conductor 7 but is insulated from the contactpiece 7', and is adapted to engage a series of rheostat contacts 2"arranged in an arc beside the tumbler. The opposite terminals of thefield winding 7) of the motor B are connected by conductors 2' and 2'respectively to the central rhcostat contact 73' and to the side G ofthe main circuit. The corresponding rheostat contacts 2" at oppositesides of the central ones are connected bv conductors i which are joinedby resistance coils 71 The motor armature 7) is connected directlyacross the main circuit, as clearly shown in Fig.- 4. The tumbler l) andcontacts z" with their connecting resistance means .thus constitute acontrolling rheostat for the motor and more or less resistance will beinterposed in the field circuit, depending upon the position of thetumbler, the field havingthe least resistance and greatest strength whenthe tumbler is in the central position, and the field resistance beingincreased and its strength lessened in proportion as the tumbler ismoved farther from the central position in either direction. The motortherefore operates at the slowest speed and with the greatest fieldstrength when the tumbler ismoved from of order or give trouble.

one clutch contact, f or 7' to the other for reversing the motion of thebed.

The operation of the controlling means is as follows: The motor can bestarted and stopped by an ordinary switch (not shown). When the tumblerl) is in the central position with its contact piece f out of engagementwith both clutch contacts 1" and f neither clutch will be energized andthe planer will be at rest. To start the planer the tumbler is moved toone side of its central position, for instance, in the direction for itscontact to engage the clutch contact f and energize the cutting clutchC, and is then allowcd to fall by gravity until arrested by engagementwith the adjustable stop 0. During the fall of the tumbler its contactpiece '5 engages one after another of the rheostat contacts 1" andgradually increases the resistance in the motor field circuit andconsequently gradually increases the speed of the motor until themaximum desired speed is attained. which is dependent upon theadjustment of the stop c. When the bed approaches the limit of itscutting stroke the backing tappet c engages the arm d? of the tumblerand returns the tumbler, moving it beyond its central position, so as tocause its contact piece f to engage the clutch contact f thereby placingthe cutting clutch C out of circuit and the backing clutch into thecircuit, and the tappet then leaves the tumbler to fall by ravity untilarrested by the other stop 0. Thiring the return of the tumbler towardits central position it gradually cuts out the field resistance, therebyincreasing the field strength of the moi or and decreasing its speed,and during its fall to the opposite side of the central position thefield resistance is gradually cut in again and the motor speeded up asbefore. \Vhen the bed approaches the limit of its backing stroke thecutting tappet c engages the other arm (I of the tumbler and returns itand allows it to "fall as before, but in the opposite direction. Thusthe controller operates automatically to reduce the motor speed, thenreverse the motion of the bed and then gradually increase the motorspeed again irrespective of. the direction of travel of the planer bed.and the reverse always takes place when the motor is operating at itsslowest speed and greatest field strength. The speed of travel of theplaner bed in either direction can be regulated as desired by properadjustments of the stops cic and the speed of the bed in one directionin no wise dependent upon its speed in the op posite direction.

The described controlling means are exccedingly simple inconstruction,the tumbler being the only movable part, and there are nolatches, tripsor other parts to get out Furthcrnlorc. the speed of theplaner bed in either direction While the electrical induction clutchesre ierred to are preferred because of the better results incident totheir use, the invention is not restricted to the employment of clutches01'' this type, for the control could be effected in a similar manner bythe use of other devices for reversing the motion of the bed which areelectrically controlled in a similar manner by-the tumbler "1).

A retarding device is preferably employed to prevent the tumbler fromfalling too rapidly when actuated by the tappet's. The device shown torthis purpose consists of a rotary disk K of copper or other conductingmaterial suitably mounted and geared to the tumbler so as to be turnedthereby. and an electromagnet Z" ha ving poles straddling the disk and awinding connected across the supply circuit by conductors 7." l1". henthis disk K is rotated by the movement of the tumbler the electricalcurrents induced in it by the magnet l: tend to retard it's rotation,and likcwiscthe motion of the tumbler to which'it is geared. Any othersuitable means can be used to cause the tumbler to move slowly whenfalling.

1 claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a motor which runs in one direction, a part: whichis driven in opposite directions by said motor through one or another oftwo transmission devices, and electrical means for controlling saidmotor and said transmission devices including a device which is moved inopposite directions past a central position by the movement oi saidreciprocating partfor placing one transmitting device out of action andthe. other into action and which deternnnes the speed of the motor 111accordance with the extent of its displacement in either direction fromits central position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a shunt field motor which runs in one direction, apart which is driven in opposite directions by said motor through one oranother of two transmission devices, and electrical'means forcontrolling said motor and said transmission deviccs'in eluding a devicewhich is moved in opposite directions past a central position by themovement oajfsaid reciprocating part for placing one transmission deviceout of action and the other into action and which introduces resistanceinto the motor field circuit in proportion to its displacement" ineither direction from its central position, substantially as set forth.

3, The combination of a motor which runs in one direction, a part which.is driven in opposite directions by said motor through I one or anotherof two transn'ussion devices, acting to introduce resistance into themotor and electrlcal means for controlling said lfield circuit inproportion to the extent of motor and said transmission devicesincluding -'a tumbler which is moved in opposite directions past acentral position iy the movement of said reciprocating part for placingone transmission device out of action and the other into action, saidtumbler being left free to fall after it is carried past its centralposition and determining the speed of the. motor in accordance with theextent. of its'movement in either direction from its central position,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a shunt field motor which runs in one direction, apart which is driven in opposite directions by said motor through one oranother of two transmission devices, electrical means for controllingsaid moto aiid said transmission devices including a tumbler which ismoved in opposite directions past a central position by the movement ofsaid reciprocating part for placing one transmission device out: ofaction and the other into action, said tumbler being left free to fallafter it is carried past its central position and acting'to introduceresistance into the motor field circuit in proportion to the extent ofits movement in either direction from its central position, andadjustable means for limiting the movement of said tumbler,substantially as set forth. i

5. The combination of a shunt field motor which runs in one direction, apart which is driven in opposite directions by said motor through one oranother of two transmission devices, electrical means for controllingsaid motor and said transmission devices includtion from its centralposition, and independently adjustable stops for independently limitingthe, movement of said tumbler in op- ,positc directions, substantiallyas set forth.

6. The combination of a shunt field motor which runs in one direction, apart which is through one or another of two transmission devices,electrical means for controlling said motor and said transmissiondevices including a pivoted tumbler which is movable in oppositedirections past. a central position 'for placing one transmissiondevice. out of action and the. other into action, tappets on saidreciprocating part which engage said tumbler and move it past itscentral position and then leave it to fall, said tumbler driven inopposite directions by said motor its movement in either direction fromits central position, and adjustable stops for limiting the movementofsaid tumbler, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a shunt field motor which runs in one direction, apart whichis driven in opposite directions by said motor through one or.another of two transmission devices, electrical means for controllingsaid motor and said transmission devices including a tumbler which ismoved in opposite di rections past a central position by the movement ofsaid reciprocating part for placing one transmission device out ofaction and the other into action, said tumbler being left free to fallafter it is carried past its central position and acting to introduceresistance into the motor field circuit in proportion to the extent ofits movement in either direction from its central position, and meansfor retarding the motion of said tumbler, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a shunt field motor which runs in one direction, apart which is driven in opposite directions by said motor through one oranother of tWo electrical clutches, and electrical means for controllingsaid motor and clutches including a tumbler which is moved in oppositedirections past a central position by the movement of said reciprocatingpart for deenergizing one clutch and energizing the other clutch, saidtumbler being left free to fall after it is carried past its centralposition and acting to introduce resistance into the motor field circuitin pro- 35 portion to the extentof its movement in either direction fromits central position, substantially as set forth.

Vitness my hand, this 5th day of February, 1909.

v ABRAM P. STECKEL. Witnesses:

IVM. HINCKLEY MITCHELL, WALLACE BUELL.

